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DyeStat Scholar
Karen Freberg's Recruiting Diary, Part 3
My first home visit and
my first trip! Wow!
by Karen Freberg
In
response to my "Karen's Diary" series on Dyestat, a lot of
athletes, moms, and dads have sent emails. I hope that I was able to
answer your questions. Feel free to email me at [email protected]
. Everyone seems to be interested in talking about trips like it was a big
secret that's now out in the open! I know some of you think that home
visits and traveling around the country are all fun and games. Well, it is
fun with a serious side. Sure, you get treated like royalty, but when it
ends, a decision needs to be made.
In the last couple of weeks, I have been learning more about the NCAA rules than I ever expected. For example, 'official' sponsored visits with colleges can only last 48 hours. The coaches really watch that number, and you may even have to wait in the baggage claim for a few minutes before they can officially pick you up to make the timing work out right. There is also something different between a 'home visit' and an 'evaluation.' Make sure you know the rules! If there's something you don't understand, ask the coach to explain.
A week ago Friday, my first 'home visit' took place. My mother did get the hall bathroom repainted, just in time--two shades of light purple (my favorite color--I helped pick the paint). Our visitor was a throws coach from a 'warm' school, a school with a lot of sunshine and no snow. I'm not too worried about weather or geography, even though I'm from California, but this school sounds really nice. 'Coach Dad' (my nickname for dad) had me demonstrate a short weightlifting workout in my home gym followed by a little throwing. I did some squats, which are my best lifts. I finished three easy sets of three repetitions with 605 lbs. I think the coach was stunned. Stunned is good! Most of the coaches already know about my national powerlifting records, but seeing is believing. It really isn't that hard. Really!
We went out and threw the shot and I was a little nervous about throwing, as this is not the time of year when we do a lot of this, but I did okay and everyone was pleased. We also did some football and basketball conditioning activities. The coach filmed me lifting and throwing. I think we ended the visit on a good note, and I will be visiting his school soon.
I have a couple of suggestions for your visits to schools. Get your homework ahead of time from your teachers, so you don't get behind. With five trips, you miss a lot of school. You can do a lot of homework on the plane or waiting in the airport. We made a packet of information, including a reprint of my Dyestat articles, to let the teachers know what I'm doing. My writing for Dyestat even impressed my English teacher, Mrs. Rotalo (and that isn't easy to do). All of my teachers want all the details when I get back. I also bought one of those disposable cameras to take along, and I took notes about my trip whenever I had a few spare minutes (which didn't happen too much).
First, a puddle jumper from San Luis Obispo
Flying out of San Luis Obispo means you usually have to fly into San Francisco, and that means fog. My itinerary was a little messed up by the two hour delay we had in San Francisco, but these things happen. The throws coach met me at the airport and off we went on a very tight schedule of tours, meeting people, and a football game. If you were watching the papers, it was a humungously exciting football game! Hint hint! In the Pacific Northwest. Hint hint! All the fans were cheering their heads off. This is what I call a school that has fan support!
I was hoping to have a chance to meet one of my dad's old teammates, who is one of the other assistant coaches. I thought he might have some good stories about my Dad from his college days, but unfortunately, we missed each other because of the airport problem.
The weight training facilities were cool and I met many of the track athletes and most of the throwers. I talked to academic counselors and the strength coach. The facilities and the people were awesome. It's a good thing I like to walk because everyone I met gave me a tour of the campus! But since we also seemed to be eating all the time, the walking was good. I tried calamari for the first time--and liked it! There is a lot of school pride here. We were at a restaurant and everyone in the place was talking sports! Wow!
Trips are a great time to look around and imagine yourself as a student there. Trips are also the right time to ask the hard questions while they get a chance to look at you. My biggest question for all the coaches is what will they do to help me improve. I've seen nation leading high school athletes who don't improve their freshman year, or even scarier, perform WORSE than they did in high school! I don't want to be one of those. I have a training program that's working for me--no injuries, steady improvement. What do they want to change and why? How will I fit in? Everyone has a different training system, and they want to put their "mark" on you. Wow, look what I did for Karen Freberg in just one year! But will I be just another mindless part of a "machine," or will the coach listen to my input and suggestions, too?
I can see myself as a student on this campus. It is a good fit for me, but I need to see others too. After I make all my trips, I will be in a better position to make a decision.
What's in store for me next? I have another home visit coming up this Friday and the following week another trip! My dad is the one frazzing now. The next coach coming for a home visit is the throws coach from a top nationally ranked midwestern university. She's also a really nice person. Stay tuned for more�.
If you have any questions or thoughts feel free to email me at [email protected] and I will get back to you as soon as I can. Good Luck in your plans!
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